Want Corner.
A Newport member asks what numbers on the head-light of a locomotive indicate. They are the number of the locomotive repeated on the head-light, in order that it may be seen at night. A locomotive's number is its identification on the books of the company from other locomotives. We would like to print Samuel D. McCoy's exchange notice, but cannot do so. The Table has no exchange column. Harry A. Light is interested in flowers, and his address is 27 Pine Street, New York. He asks how the United States ranks with foreign powers in point of military strength. The German army, when on a peace footing, has 546,136 men in it; the French, 567,464; the Italian, 220,685; the Austrian, 334,400; the Russian, 1,112,684; the British, 138,410; and the United States, 27,957. Great Britain has in its navy 6790 guns; France, 6554; Germany, 1361; Italy, 1562; and Russia, 1643. The United States has about the same number of guns as Germany, though it has no fewer than sixty naval vessels, as tugs, school-ships, small steamers, condemned boats, etc., out of commission and unfit for service in war.
Linnie Schloeman: Jane Porter was born in Durham, in 1776, and died in Bristol, May 24, 1850. She was educated at Edinburgh, and afterward removed to London with her mother and sister. Here she published Thaddeas of Warsaw, which was translated into several languages. In 1809 she published The Scottish Chiefs, a story of the adventures of Bruce and Wallace. Essex Hobarten asks how to make a simple dynamo. He will find more detailed information than we can repeat here in the Young People dated January 15, 1895. A copy may be had from the publishers. The price is five cents. Any dealer can get it for you.
Two Knights say they collect birds' eggs. Better not, friends. The eggs belong to the birds. We are aware that naturalists say it does no harm to extract one egg from a nest. Perhaps not, when the purpose is clearly for study. But the Table cannot do this thing as a pleasure—a mere fancy for that sort of a collection. Please do not collect birds' eggs. Chester Lewis, writing from Cincinnati, sends no street address. Suppose he writes again. James F. Rodgers will find an account of the Johnson Impeachment case in any history, Moore's American Congress, for example. The Senate refused to sustain the impeachment, hence one might say that it thought it unjustifiable. Stanislaus Bloch, 5 Krueza Street, Warsaw, in Russian Poland, has Russian and Finland stamps to trade, and says he will answer all letters. Carl Deal: The Order has no gold badges, but it has been suggested that it provide such.
This Department is conducted in the interest of Girls and Young Women, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on the subject so far as possible. Correspondents should address Editor.
Is it right to care about one's clothes, and to like to have pretty and becoming things? Why, of course it is not only right, but a positive duty to have one's wardrobe in good order, and to wear colors and shapes which suit one's style and complexion. The girls for whom I write are old enough to take intelligent interest in their clothes; some of them may even buy their own materials, and cut and make their every-day frocks and waists for themselves. Every girl should understand the principles of dress-making, so that she may know how much stuff needs to be used in a gown, and regulate for herself the sort of trimming which will finish her costume appropriately.
Growing girls do not need many dresses at once. A pretty toilette for best, which may at this season be of wool crépon or of summer silk, and a serviceable frock of serge or some other strong woollen stuff for every-day and roughing occasions, will meet the requirements of ordinary life. A girl should have besides these, for summer, one or two dainty ginghams simply made, a half-dozen shirt waists, four of linen or percale, and two of silk, and a white gown either of Swiss muslin or China silk. A sailor hat for common use, a wide-brimmed picture hat for very best, and a jaunty little toque will be enough in the way of covering for the head, and she will be wise to have, if she can, several pairs of shoes. It is economy to have duplicates of one's shoes and boots, as these last much longer when frequently changed and relieved. For tramping about the roads and hills one needs, as also for the city promenade, an absolutely comfortable walking boot, with broad soles, low heels, and a shape that fits the foot to perfection. Too loose a shoe is as disagreeable and as bad for the foot of its wearer as one which is too tight. A dress boot may be of cloth and patent-leather or of soft kid. Let me insist, girls, on your keeping your boots in order, so far as the buttons are concerned. Nothing gives one so careless an appearance as a boot from which buttons have fallen.
Gloves should be kept in order just as shoes are. As they are a very expensive part of one's outfit, one should care for them nicely. In taking off your gloves, pull them from the top downwards, so that they are wrong side out when they come off. Straighten them at your leisure, and keep your very best when not in use folded up in tissue-paper, and in a box. Chamois gloves are nice for every day, and have the advantage of standing a good deal of rough wear. They are to be preferred for gardening, driving, rowing, and sweeping. I take it that among you are many girls who sweep their own rooms, and do not wish to have hands blistered from the broom.
Reject any soap or washing compound that will cleanse without an expenditure of time and labor. "What is well done is done soon enough," and Ivory Soap will do the work as quickly as it can be done with safety.